Chapter 3
Kunai
Sam turned his head behind him checking. "Where?" he asked his courage failing. "Who are they?"
"I do not know" Legolas listening to his senses, hoping they would provide some answers.
Beneath them Arod wined and reared suddenly, his front hooves beating the air. Instantly Sam's body tensed his grip tightened on Legolas' waist and Frodo's hands shot for the mane. Legolas found balance and called out to his steed as his hooves touched the ground once more. Instantly his rear legs shot up, bucking his passengers off balance.
Sam felt himself slide off sideways; his small shout stopped as a strong hand caught him by the collar and lowered him onto the ground.
"Keep back" Legolas ordered wrapping an arm around Frodo who he'd felt slip as Arod reared again, hooves beating the air as if warding off an enemy. Sam hurried backwards and fell feeling something bite into his bare foot.
"I'm going to lower you down Frodo" Legolas said, his pale face slick with sweat in effort to keep both of them on the wild horses back. Frodo slid himself off one side and Legolas lowered him beside him telling, like Sam to keep back.
"Gwiil, nin mellon" //peace my friend//. Legolas called to the raging horse. Arod paid no heed and turned sharply bucking at the same time.
This unseated his last rider but Legolas landed gracefully next to Arod's head. His whisperings and comforting face relaxed his horse. As he calmed, his feet staying in the ground Legolas noticed that Arod held his left fore leg slightly off the ground. He swooped down and lifted the foot higher off the ground. He did not expect to see what he found. A metal item crossed over between an arrow head and a spear head but with more long, sharp points was buried onto the hoof. Talking to his faithful steed Legolas held the barb strongly between his fore finger and thumb and pulled the foreign object free. It has not drawn blood put would be extremely sore and Arod limped sadly away from the clearing, walking much more carefully. Legolas looked closely at the barbs that scattered the area around his feet. Many of the barbs bore different marksmanships, made in the fires of the races of Men, Elves and Dwarfs.
"Legolas" Frodo called. Dodging the barbs Legolas crept over towards the Hobbits. Frodo was sitting alongside Sam's outstretched feet, one sore and bloody. He had trodden on one of the barbs also.
Legolas' slim fingers were gentle as they set to work pulling the barb free. Sam screwed his face and barded his teeth as Legolas gently pulled the spikes free of his skin.
"What is it?" Frodo asked watching as Legolas removed the barb, twisting it in the dull sunlight that penetrated the dying branches.
"It's a barb of some sort a cross between an arrow head and a spear head. None of these are the same. They are broken pieces from various weapons wielded by different folk" Legolas threw the barb aside in disgust. "These weren't left here by accident" he nodded to the hidden pile scattered across the path. "Someone wanted this to happen to us." He looked wearily into the area before turning his attention to the scared Hobbits.
"Come wash you wounds I can hear a stream nearby" he changed his tone trying to remember that they were still free. He carried Sam towards the sound of running water, Frodo at his side, and Arod obediently limping behind them.
At the waterside Sam bathed his injured foot, Arod drank noisily, and Legolas filled the water skins and saw to Frodo's finger. He was happy with its progress it was healing well in the short time. In low tones they discussed the options.
"What are we to do now?" Frodo asked.
"That I do not know. We can not ride," he glanced at Arod, his lips dripping with water "nor could we travel by foot. We would be caught by are pursuers and Sam would not be able to walk far. But we can not stay here, they would find us and there is something here that unnerves me" Legolas eyes ran the tree tops.
Frodo nodded "I don't like it here either. There must be another –" Legolas pressed a finger to his lips suddenly stopping Frodo in mid sentence.
Something moved through the thin line of bushes on the other side of the stream. Arod stiffened, his eyes locked ahead of him. Legolas narrowed his. Then his keen ears heard it. An arrow whistled towards them burring itself into the stream back. Instantly the trio scattered.
"Run!" Legolas called, the fear of being ambushed felt like knives stabbing his senses. Sam and Frodo ran half limping, Legolas followed jumping into the nearest tree his bow loaded.
He expected to see an army, but only four scouts on horseback rode from the greenery. They rode upon black horses, the riders clad in black robes but they lacked the icily chill and gruesome tack of the Nazgúl. Convinced they were not friends Legolas fired. From his advantage point three of the four riders fell, the fourth turned and fled. Elven arrow chased and wounded his horse as he continued to fly. Nimbly Legolas jumped down, his fast feet leaving no mark on the hard floor and chased after the fallen scouts horses. Snapping one by the reins the other two fled following the path of the fourth rider. Legolas cursed himself for missing the fourth scout knowing he would be back soon with reinforcements. Quickly he called Sam and Frodo over to him and lifted them upon the back of the frightened horse. There was not time to soothe the foreign horse or remove the tack. Legolas felt uncomfortable in the leather saddle, the stirrups too short for his long legs, his fingers gripped the reins tightly as he nudged the horse onwards with his heels calling for Sam and Frodo to hold on.
"Hold the mane Frodo, I need both hands" he half spoke as the horse wiggled under its new rider. Harder he kicked the horse into action, this time earning the desired affected.
Raised voice cut the air as reinforcements hurried in pursuit.
Skillfully Legolas steered the black horse amongst the trees ducking under low braches and turning sharply. Arrows whistled past his ears, he pushed the horse faster, slapping its hind with a short branch. The horse raised its head in a feeble protest to this treatment and chase, but Legolas pushed onwards.
"Hold" he shouted steering them towards a fallen tree. As the horse jumped Legolas lent forward with the momentum of the ride his bottom sliding slightly in the saddle as they landed. Both Sam and Frodo held on tightly not wishing to be left behind. The arrow shafts were closer to hitting their target; Legolas continued to change direction to dodge shafts and too give a more difficult chase. Beneath him his horse began to tire, foaming at the bit. He glanced over his shoulder, more figures similarly glad to the scouts chased them all riding black horses complete with armour upon their faces similarly to the horses of Rohan gave close chase. Turning his head back he saw the reason for the horse's lack of speed a shaft stood from his hind.
"Legolas" Frodo shouted as the broke through the screen of leaves. His jaw dropped ahead with strings taught stood at least ten arches their arrows pointed at them.
Each archers face was stern and emotionless they were completely unhindered by a galloping horse rushing towards them.
Legolas swore and checked the horse knowing the archers would fire once they were in range. Their choices were thin. Retreat, right into the chasing army behind, or continue and be shot at. Either way death faced him. For the first time in his life Legolas felt fear and panic he began to lose his cool, sweat slipped down his checks. Would this be the death of them?
"Fire"
No, an idea leapt into his head suddenly.
Pulling the right rein sharply, the horses head rose in protest but he moved quickly and Legolas lifted his legs from the stirrups tucking them up beneath him seconds before the shafts struck. The foreign horse took the line of arrows into it side. The three riders were not harmed.
The horse fell onto its side Legolas rolled aside drawing his blades as did Sam and Frodo they understood the situation well they drew their short swords quickly but never raised them as they felt the cold sharp blade of steel against their throats.
"Halt! Or I'll make your halfling friends even smaller" one rider called holding a blade close to Frodo's throat. "Drop your weapons" the solider demanded.
Sighing quietly in defeat feeling the many arrows pointing at him Legolas had no other choice but to do as the voice commanded. He dropped his slim lightweight blades onto the forest fall. His hands were roughly bound in front of him and the Hobbits too, their weapons taken. The Men pushed them roughly towards Legolas' side. The Men hissed commands and flaming torches were bought closer and their faces were lit, each dirty and weary. One hit the back of Legolas knees with a spear butt causing him to sink instantly onto the forest floor which began to redden with the blood of the slain horse.
Figures bought the flaming torches nearer, another voice spoke; it lacked the harsh tone of the other soldiers.
"I congratulate you, my Men for we have captured our pray," the speaking figure stepped forward, his black cloak sweeping around his ankles, long raven hair glistening and stirring in the breeze. "We have captured more then just any Elf and any pair of Hobbits. This unless I am very much mistaken is the youngest of the sons of Thranduil, King of Mirkwood" the speaker spat the names of Legolas' father and homeland with venom and disgust. "These small folks are none but the down fallers of our master" he continued casting evil glares over the two Hobbits.
The Men stirred around the circle for these were the Mortal army of Sauron Legolas noted each barring the evil aura of Sauron. The speaker obviously the leader stepped closer towards the prisoners, his face caught in the torchlight. The leader grinned slightly and somehow as he drew nearer his face began more and more familiar to the fair Prince.
"Long have I waited to see your family bow at my feet, something that should have happened years ago" he whispered locking eyes with Legolas. "You deserve what punishment you receive." He pulled away, his long dark hair moving in a gust of wind. Legolas had to stop himself from crying out. The leaders pointed Elven ears were clear to see, yet the Men did not react. Like a bright candle in the darkness Legolas knew where he had seen this Elven face before. Nearly two thousand years ago he had been put on trail for the death of twelve Elves. He was found guilty and banished from all Elven realms. He was thought to be dead, but here he was alive, and the tables were now on his side.
Kunai had return, blackened by the evil of Sauron.